Can Clover Replace Turf
Throughout the article, I have introduced you to the clover properties and numerous ways to get rid of it. But, heres something completely different.
Did you know that you can actually create a clover lawn?
Inquiries on clover lawns are growing in popularity primarily because of the pollinator crisis. Both wild and domesticated bees are experiencing massive losses globally, partially due to the lack of food.
In that context, our turf lawns lack any flowers they can collect nectar from. To insect pollinators, our lush turf is just one big green desert.
Last but not least, we depend on pollinators for our survival they pollinate the crops we turn into food.
Because of that, some people have changed their lawn maintenance practices and turned to more natural, old-school lawn mixes that include low-growing flowering species.
Pollinators are not the sole reason, though. Some people have studied the properties of clover and decided that the fact that it doesnt require fertilization, doesnt need a lot of mowing and that it easily outcompetes other weeds will save them a lot of money and time.
Clover lawns consist of low-growing species of clover such as the White clover or Micro Clover . Micro clover doesnt flower much, so its a way to surpass bees if they present a hazard for you.
A clover lawn has some disadvantages too we have covered those in the Is it bad to have clover in your lawn section.
How To Remove Clover From Your Lawn The Natural Way
Many people frown upon the idea of adding chemicals to their green spaces and they are right to do so. A lot of the times, the products that are made to kill weeds in your garden also can inflict damage to your other plants and soil. Here are a few methods to remove clovers from your lawn in a safe and natural way:
Make Your Own Clover Killer
Its easier than you may have thought to get rid of clover in flower beds or spots in your lawn. We have a variety of simple methods and homemade recipes that show you how to get rid of clover and prevent it from coming back.
Well show you how to make a natural acetic acid weed killer spray and how to perform weed control by maintaining a healthy lawn. Visit your pantry and the cabinet beneath the kitchen sink for the ingredients for this simple weed killer.
You May Like: What Chemicals Do Lawn Care Companies Use
How To Get Rid Of Clover With Nitrogen
The better fertilized your yard is, the fewer problems you will have with weeds. The same holds with white clover. To combat clover, check your lawns nitrogen levels, as the proper levels give you an advantage over the weeds.
Low nitrogen levels are required for clover to thrive, so look for a weed-and-feed product containing higher levels of nitrogen than other fertilizers. For lawns overtaken by clover, do not use a slow-release formula, as those only work on smaller patches.
Dish Soap Is What Kills Clover But Not Grass
If you are looking for a natural weed killer to kill off your clover problem, you can create a home made weed killer. Many gardeners have reported excellent results when used as a spot treatment.
- Spray bottle
To make this simple DIY weed killer spray, fill the spray bottle just shy of full with vinegar and add a few drops of dish soap. Shake the bottle to mix the ingredients.
Spray generously on clover as a spot treatment for clumps or use it as a spray for dandelions or other ugly weeds that sprout where you dont want them to. When spraying, do so with caution, as this weed killer may kill surrounding plants.
You May Like: How To Fix Patches In Lawn
The Soil Is Deficient In Important Nutrients Especially Nitrogen
Clover thrives in nitrogen-deficient soil. In fact, white Dutch clover is an indicator plant for low nitrogen meaning that if you see it growing in your lawn, it probably means the soil is low in nitrogen.
A well-timed application of organic spring lawn fertilizer can help bump up nitrogen levels .
Advantage #: Low Mower Deck
Another advantage clover has over your grass is that it doesnt mind being mown short. Mowing stresses your lawn, keeping your grass mown short gives clover a head start over and over. Many times on our blog we have recommended that homeowners keep their grass a little longer in order to help the grass stay healthy. Raising the deck on your mower and keeping your grass a little longer evens the playing field, so to speak, and helps your grass get ahead.
Don’t Miss: How To Get More Clients For Lawn Care
Use A Natural Weed Killer
You can mix your own natural weed killer and apply it to the patch of lawn where you have clover.
The best type to use is the vinegar mixture. For you to get it right, mix 1 drop of dish soap and 1 cup of vinegar. Next, add 1 cup of water to it.
Shake the mixture thoroughly and pour it into a spray bottle. Now, you take it to the part of the lawn where the clover is growing. Spray it and make sure it gets all the clover.
The vinegar in the mixture will cause the leaves of the clover to dry out. And the soap will cause the vinegar stick to the leaves. The water is just to mix the other ingredients properly.
You may have to repeat the spraying process for several weeks before all the clover dries out. And there is also the chance the mixture will get to other grass.
But the good news is that you can control how it spreads. Simply target the clover and spray it directly. Ensure there is splashing on the other grass if you are particular about keeping it.
However, if you are going to go for commercial weed killers, try those which contain mecoprop-P and dicamba. If the specie of clover is particularly resistant to these ingredients, try a weed killer that contains fluroxypyr.
When to Apply Weed Killers
You should use these weed killers between April and August. If you use them after August, they wonât be as effective. This is probably because the clover and other weed have grown stronger.
Most importantly, ensure you learn how to safely and properly apply these weed killers.
Step #2 Pick The Right Time
For clover and other weeds to be susceptible to herbicides they need to be in a stage of active growth. For clover this means that daytime temperatures should be at least 60°F. Spraying them when temperatures are colder will lead to an incomplete uptake of the herbicide and lackluster results. However, spraying weeds when temperatures are too hot can also be problematic. When applied in times of high heat, many herbicides will damage desirable grass in addition to killing weeds. For T-Zone temperatures should not exceed 85°F, for Hi-Yield Triclopyr, SpeedZone Southern and Dismiss they should not exceed 90°F.
Herbicides should not be applied lawns that are wet. Dew, rain or irrigation water can all dilute even the best products and prevent them from sticking to the weeds. Thus, grass should be dry and no rain should be forecast for at least 12 to 24 hours.
When spraying most weeds it is advised not be mow the grass beforehand as reducing the size of the weeds makes for smaller targets for herbicides. However, when fighting clover mowing beforehand is a good idea as tall grass can actually prevent the herbicides from reaching the low-growing clover. Mowing, however, should be avoided for at least 24 hours after the application so as to allow ample time for the product to work its way into the clover.
Read Also: How Do I Fill In Bare Spots In My Lawn
Kill The Clover Organically
There is a great organic weed killer on the market that kills weeds in your lawn, without killing the grass. If you spray this organic weed killer on Clover, it will weaken the Clover without harming the surrounding lawn, giving your grass the advantage it needs to outcompete the Clover. Weed Beater Fe is the name of the product and we’ve had great success using it to eliminate Clover and help grass thrive.;
How To Kill Clover Without Chemicals
by Alec McClennan, on April 28, 2020
Does your lawn look like the lawn pictured below? Are you seeing a lot of white flowers in your lawn and don’t like the look of them? Maybe you’re concerned about the Clover attracting bees and making it more likely for your kids to get stung? If this is your lawn and you’d like to have more grass and less Clover, keep reading to learn more.;
You May Like: Is It Too Late To Reseed My Lawn
The Types Of Clovers You Can See Growing In Your Garden
White or Dutch cloverThis type of clover is the most popular and can grow in almost any type of soil. The tiny plant can be found most commonly growing in medium to heavy alkaline soils. The dutch clover has longer stems and forms little white flowers that shape a ball.
Lesser yellow trefoilYou can spot yellow trefoil on lawns that have weaker looking grass. This clover spreads extremely fast if not monitored and can survive close mowing. We advise you to restrain yourself from cutting the grass in your garden lower in order to remove the yellow trefoil. The method can do more harm than good because it can weaken the tuft, even more, especially on poor soils.
Other sorts of clovers that you can spot on your lawn like birdsfoot trefoil, black medick, hares foot, and slender trefoil spread and grow by seeds.
Why You Might Wish To Keep Clover In Your Yard
You might not like the appearance of clover, but it can in fact benefit your yard. Natural Fertilizer: Clovers symbiotic relationship with beneficial bacteria permits it to absorb nitrogen from the environment. Ultimately, it can make your yard greener and more lush. Nevertheless, this will keep it growing & outcompeting your lawn. Weed Avoidance: Mowing your yard high will avoid weeds from growing, including clover. But if you like short, cool yard thats under 3 inches, letting clover grow is a solid choice. Clovers leaves cast shade over the soil, creating it tough for other weeds to take root and grow and take on your yard.
Read Also: How To Treat Your Lawn
What Does Clover Look Like
This might seem like a silly question since many people, thanks to St. Patricks Day, know the familiar 3-leaf formation clover is known for. However, white clover is sometimes mistakenly confused for black medic and oxalis or yellow clover because of similar 3-leaf formations. White clover puts out small white flower clusters and is a perennial.
Killing Clover In Your Flower Beds
So youve worked your fingers to the bone in your vegetable and flower garden, and the results have been unbelievable.; Just then, you spot that lucky charm growing in the dirt that youve spent so much time working in.;
What can you do?
Well, you can use some of the same techniques already covered that you can use on your lawn and apply them to your flower beds.; This goes for corn gluten meal, removing it by hand, and using a fertilizer that is rich in nitrogen.; You can even use the vinegar solution and the broadleaf herbicides if you ensure that you are careful when spot spraying and not coating the surrounding plants.
With lawns, there is a lot more room for error.; A garden, on the other hand, is smaller and the fruits and vegetables from it are brought to your family table to eat.; A mistake on your lawn may go unnoticed, but a mistake in the garden will definitely be seen.; So what do you do about that?
Recommended Reading: How To Control Moles In Your Lawn
Planting Tips For White Clover
White clover;is the most common clover grown in lawns because it is the lowest growing and hardy, Sharapova says. It has a creeping;growth habit, spreading by above-ground runners . It is best to sow clover early in the season . She also suggests;early spring;months mid-April to mid-May as ideal times, with;late summer;and September being second-best.;Clover plants;like cool,;fertile soil;with adequate soil moisture.;Its root system rarely goes more than 2 feet deep,, which makes it good for relatively shallow topsoil.
White-clover;seed;comes in many varieties and is readily available by mail order or at local gardening stores.
Mow the existing lawn short and rake out any thatch buildup so that the small;clover seed;has contact with the soil, she says. Mix the tiny;clover seed;with sand, compost, or soil to aid dispersal. 1-2 ounces of;clover seed;is needed for every 1,000 square feet of lawn.
The rest is natures work. Lawn owners can sit back and, over the next season or two, see a 5% to 10% clover cover establish in their lawn and experience the return of something natural, helpful, and beautiful that maybe we shouldnt have been so hasty to get rid of in the first place.
Reason : Microclover Provides Clover Benefits Without Drawbacks
Over the years many people have called us wondering how to eliminate the Clover in their lawns without using chemicals. Once they understand the benefits of Clover they often leave the Clover and even consider purchasing additional Microclover to help make the lawn more uniformly Clover covered!
The image above is of a lawn seeded with our Microclover which flowers much less prolifically than standard White Clover and is aggressive enough to spread evenly through a lawn. We’ve found that lawns planted with Microclover stay greener, healthier, and have fewer weeds than lawns with no Clover. In addition, they need less fertilizer and water. So, if you’re now of the mindset that if you can’t “beat clover, join clover” then you might want to learn a little more about it by visiting our Microclover page. You can also purchase Microclover at our online store.
You May Like: When To Fertilize Lawn In Arkansas
Deprive It Of Oxygen And Sunlight
You can kill clover by blocking it from all oxygen and sunlight. Take plastic sheeting or a garbage bag and place it over the patch, securing the corners with rocks to make sure it doesnt fly up. This should get rid of the clover in a few weeks. Be mindful that this approach will also kill any grass that gets under the plastic.
Use A Nitrogen Rich Fertilizer On Your Lawn
Clover preys upon lawns that are deficient in nitrogen and have low soil fertility.; Using nitrogen-rich fertilizer or weed n feed products will ensure that your nitrogen levels are sufficient. The healthy and thick grass growth that results will not afford the weeds enough room to begin their hostile takeover.
Its also important to remember that higher phosphorus levels in your lawn promote clover invasion on your lawn.; Keep that in mind when you go to fertilize your lawn.; Because you will need adequate phosphorus levels to keep your lawn healthy, but a surplus of the nutrient can support the growth of these weeds.
Also Check: How Do I Get My Lawn Dark Green
Use Of Less Fertilizer/seed
This is also a simple way to get rid of clover in the lawn naturally because for this purpose you dont need anything just try to lessen the amount of fertilizer you used.
If you have a lot of clover in the lawn so you should use the low seed for germination which means use a low amount of seeds and fertilizer in the lawn as more fertilizer you used because of extra fertilizer also occur.
So if you used less in the amount your lawn grows well and also these clovers dont grow. So its an important step to remove clover in your yard that you should fewer fertilizer ingredients and seeds.
Get Rid Of Dandelions
To kill dandelions, be sure to tackle them in the fall, when nutrients are transferred from the leaves down to the roots . An organic and effective way to get rid of this invasive weed is to use vinegar. The acetic acid in it makes for an all-natural herbicide. Apply it directly onto the leaves of the weeds. To increase the strength of store-bought vinegar, boil it down before application. Youll want to pour the vinegar into a spray bottle and spray the effected area. Within a few hours, youll notice the leaves have withered and turned brown.
Don’t Miss: What Is The Best All Wheel Drive Lawn Mower
Advantage #: Frequent Mowing
Clover will thrive when you keep your lawn mown short or when you keep it long. The problem is that keeping your lawn mown short puts stress on your grass and prevents it from growing strong roots. On our blog we have talked about best mowing practices and recommend raising your mower deck and keeping your lawn a little longer to promote healthy growth. Keeping your lawn short means you mow it less often, but you create ideal conditions for clover to outperform your grass.
Clover Control: How To Get Rid Of Clover
Clover is one of the most recognizable broadleaf weeds on lawns and turf. Clover is a perennial weed that grows low to the ground and is very persistent where established.
Even though it is a weed, clover is actually a helpful addition to your lawn as it contains certain characteristics that keep your lawn healthy. If you’re keeping a nice uniform lawn, you may hate the sight of it and want it gone.
Clover weed prefers nutrient-rich, moist soils. Dry and shady sites are not ideal conditions for growth. The notable characteristic of clover are its three-leaves which are rounded. There are many different species of clover and they can produce heads or dense spikes of small red, purple, white, or yellow flowers.
If you have Clover on your lawn that you want to get rid of, our DIY guide can help. The guide below has been put together by lawn care experts and will show you what the best clover killers are to use to properly conduct clover treatment so this plant no longer dominates your yard.
Don’t Miss: How To Restore Grass Lawn
